It has been my privilege to serve AIA Ohio as its 2012 President and I want to thank the membership for the opportunity to serve the profession and the Institute in moving forward through these challenging times. From the beginning of my year of leadership, I promoted the idea “we are the architects of our own future”. I then added the corollary “Architecture IS an Economic Engine”. Now, as I wind up the year, I have merged these thoughts to energize us going forward promoting “We are the Architects of an Economic Engine for our Future”. In leading AIA Ohio, I have sought to develop the theme suggesting 12 strategies to reinforce it. I have put forward programs in their support and told their stories throughout the year. The message has suggested action, speed and power. The themes:

Promoting the value of architects

Educating our members in the skills to become the trusted advisor

Strengthening our diversity

Promoting collaboration within the profession and beyond.

Recognizing the value of community service as a worthy endeavor.

Expanding the domains of practice.

Building the next generation

Developing leadership and investing it within our communities.

Engaging in the legislative process

Celebrating success

Honoring the past

Envisioning the future.

These topics have been discussed in each of the newsletters in articles with titles including: “Get Your Motor Running; Now is Not the Time to Idle the Motor; and First Gear, it’s Alright; Second Gear, Lean Right; Third Gear, Hang on Tight…Faster”. The message is action, speed and power. In summarizing the year’s efforts, I will highlight each of the 12 strategies in building an economic engine through the practice of architecture and conclude with a summary of my vision for our future.

Congratulations to AIA Ohio Past President, Chris Widener, FAIA who was resoundingly re-elected to a second four-year term in the Ohio Senate representing the 10th District. Senator Widener has chaired the powerful Senate Finance Committee during the current 129th Ohio General Assembly.

NCARB Broadens Opportunities to Earn IDP Hours

Washington, DC-The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has announced additional opportunities for interns to earn experience hours. These two opportunities build upon the experience areas announced in April as part of IDP 2.0. The academic internship experience, originally capped at 930 hours, will now have no cap. This change will be retroactive to April 5 when academic internships first became available to earn hours. Interns will also have the opportunity to earn IDP experience through construction work and will be able to take advantage of this opportunity upon implementation this fall.

“The Council is continuously looking for opportunities for interns to gain valuable experience that counts toward the IDP,” said Michael J. Armstrong, NCARB Chief Executive Officer. “The addition of construction work and the removal of the cap on experience earned through academic internships demonstrate the Council’s commitment to a more agile approach to its programs, expanding opportunities, and responding to recommendations of our stakeholders and collateral partners like the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA).”

Construction Work

Many options exist in the construction industry for an intern to gain hands-on experience. Through these options interns develop knowledge and skills valuable to understanding how details “on paper” translate to the built environment and other aspects of the profession of architecture.

Interns may earn up to 930 elective hours in construction work done through either a paid or volunteer position. They must work at least 15 hours per week for a minimum of eight weeks for the experience to qualify. Construction activities that can be counted toward hours include, but are not limited to, hanging drywall, wiring, flooring, plumbing, and building layout.

“Construction work gives interns experience working with materials and a better understanding of installation requirements and material limitations,” said Harry M. Falconer Jr., AIA, NCARB, Director, Internship + Education. “This is also an opportunity to work directly with contractors instrumental in creating the final product.”

Academic Internships

Additionally, architecture students participating in academic internships meeting the requirements defined in the IDP Guidelines through their university can now earn more than 930 hours through this opportunity. NCARB’s Board of Directors decided to remove the limit as a result of discussions with the ACSA, the Council’s Internship Committee, and the IDP Advisory Committee. Limited IDP credit for academic internships was permitted for the first time in April as part of the new IDP 2.0 criteria.

This change recognizes that many academic institutions have internships that run parallel or are embedded in to their academic programs, and have an oversight structure that provides a level of quality control for the experience being earned. The NCARB Board concluded that these programs provide the participants with valuable work experience that is intended to expose students to the “real world” aspects of the practice.

“The committees and the Board of Directors felt experience obtained within the guidelines of the IDP should count for hours toward the program regardless of whether the host is a firm, an academic institution, or other related setting,” Falconer said.

Full details on these opportunities and how to report them will available in the October 2012 IDP Guidelines.

Spread the Word: NCARB Fall “Welcome Back” Offer

For the second time this year, NCARB is taking steps to provide customers with some financial relief in this challenging economic climate.

From October 1 through November 30, NCARB has a “Welcome Back to NCARB” offer of reduced fees for reactivating lapsed architect or intern Records.

The features of this offer are:

For architects:

NCARB is waiving all past renewal fees for architects who reactivate a lapsed Record or Certificate.

Depending on how long the customer’s Record/Certificate has lapsed, this could equate to significant savings.

* Architects who let their Records or Certificates go inactive while an architect will have all past renewal fees waived upon reactivation. The cost to reactivate is only $475.

* Architects who let their Records go inactive while still an intern will have all past renewal fees waived upon reactivation, plus they will get certified for FREE as long as they qualify for NCARB certification. The cost to reactivate is only $475.

For interns:

NCARB is waiving all past renewal fees for interns who reactivate a lapsed Record. The cost to reactivate is just $75, and going forward, if their Record remains active through licensure, they will get NCARB-certified for FREE and will get half-price renewals of their Certificate for three years.

Again this year, our association is sponsoring a workers’ compensation group, so that our members can continue to receive significant discount off their workers’ compensation premiums. The group administrator, Frank Gates, has sent out enrollment materials to all returning employers who qualify for the group.

If you have not enrolled in the program yet, the deadline for Frank Gates to receive your enrollment materials is February 22, 2013, but we strongly recommend enrolling as soon as possible to lock in your rate and make sure you don’t miss out on the discount.

If your company hasn’t taken advantage of the great rate reduction and services included in the plan, there is still time to be evaluated for the coming group!

To see how your company can benefit from the group program you must complete an AC-3 (Temporary Authorization to Review Information) in the near future. To request a no-cost, no-obligation quote, please contact Frank Gates at (800) 395-4119. Note that employers currently in the Frank Gates Group Rating Program do not need to send an AC-3 as they are automatically reviewed for the group rating program. If you are presently in this year’s program and have not received your enrollment materials for the coming year, please call Frank Gates.

The deadline to join the 2013 Group Rating Program is approaching! Please call Frank Gates to help find the best option for your business.

2013 Ohio Safety Congress

The Ohio Safety Congress & Expo is one of the finest occupational safety and health events in the Midwest. The event, scheduled for April 9 – April 11, 2013 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, will offer dynamic keynote speakers, a variety of educational sessions and displays of occupational safety and health products.

Choose from 150 educational sessions to help your business save lives and save money.

For more information contact BWC at 1-800-OHIOBWC or visit ohiobwc.com.

BWC Safety and Health Services

At no added cost, BWC offers businesses comprehensive and valuable workplace safety and health services. The BWC’s mission is to lower risks, making workplaces safer and healthier. BWC provides support for businesses to improve their bottom line by reducing workers’ compensation costs.

BWC is your partner in workplace safety and health

Workers’ compensation premiums include the cost of BWC safety services, so why not take advantage of the broad spec­trum of offerings, tailored specifically to the needs of Ohio workplaces.

Jeffr ey Anderson is currently a graduate student pursuing a Master of Architecture degree at The Ohio State University’s Knowlton School of Architecture. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Anderson came to Ohio State University to study architecture in 2007. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Architecture with honors and research distinction, Anderson was awarded a fellowship to return to the university for graduate school. His work, in collaboration with Jeffrey Kipnis and other Ohio State students, was recently featured at the 2012 Venice Biennale of Architecture. After he graduates, he plans on working for several years before returning to school for a post-professional degree.

From Kent State University – Claire Markwardt

A Special Note from Claire Markwardt Thank you very much for your generous donation of a scholarshipfor thisacademic year. Having just finished undergraduate school, my expenses are shifting and this will greatly help with the transformation. Your generosity will assistnot only with the costs of finding a place to live, but also with the expenses associated with my studies.

Your assistance helps students tremendously to come out of college without debt. Thank you again. I hope this coming year goes well for you.

Sincerely, Claire Markwardt

AIA OhioA Society of the American Institute of Architects17 South High St. – Suite 200 Columbus, OH 43215-3458

This information is provided exclusively for AIA Ohio members.Call 614-221-0338 or send e-mail to aiaohio@assnoffices.com